BETA test, dual printers, 64 bit
Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2010 5:48 pm
Well DHPOS fans we have another snappy beta version that needs testing. This is version 7.04 BETA 1
If you wish to test this and then report back do the following...
1. Create a new folder on your hard drive.
2. Copy the contents of your current DHPOS folder to the new folder.
3. Download http://www.dhpos.com/pos704b1.exe to the new folder.
4. Run the pos704b1.exe file from the new folder to extract the program files.
5. From the new folder run the POS.EXE file to start the program. Make sure that version 7.04 BETA 1 is displayed.
All your old files will remain in your old folder and you must run the files from that folder when you are actually using the program to ring actual sales. Use the new folder only to test the new version.
I need you to report back on the new dual printers option and using DOSBox to run the program on 64 bit computers. If you find problems I need you to post them here immediately. If you find no problems tell me that by Friday, 1-15-10 so that I can upload the new version for general release next weekend.
Here are the details....
NEW FEATURES
Total pieces
When ringing up a sale a running count of all the pieces rung so far will appear below the bottom of the “Pieces” column. This count will also appear at the bottom of the receipt.
64 bits
If you have a 64 bit computer or are running a 64 bit version of Windows you can now run this program under DOSBox to get it to work on your computer. Here are the instructions http://keyhut.com/64bit.htm
Full screen
DOSBox will also run the program in full screen on Windows XP, Vista, and 7 systems even if those systems are not 64 bit.
Dual Printers
The program will now support 2 printers attached to the same computer. This is so you can print receipts on a receipt printer on a roll of paper at 40 characters per line and print reports on a computer page printer at 80 characters per line. Following are the instructions for this from the manual….
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Every POS system should also print reports. As a first option this program will print reports on the printer that is used to print receipts. However if you attach a second printer to your computer you can use the first printer to print receipts and the second printer to print reports. Normally the first printer would be a 40 character wide printer that prints on a roll of paper and the second printer would be an 80 character wide computer page printer that prints on sheets of paper.
You would have to attach each printer to a different port on your computer like, LPT1: / LPT2: or LPT1: / USB or two different USB ports. Theoretically you could use a serial port but serial printers are not recommended, will not work under Windows versions after ’98, and may not work anyway.
To use the receipt printer as the report printer you need to do nothing other than set up the receipt printer using the parameter settings above.
To use a second printer to print reports from the main POS.EXE menu you must go to the “8. Reports” feature. From the “Reports” menu press [F5] and another print parameter screen will appear like this…
YES Print reports on a second printer.
PAGE Print on a page printer or print continuously.
0 Number of blank lines between receipts. (Cont.) 0 - 20
0 Number of top margin lines. (Page) 0 - 5
60 Number of printed lines per page. (Page) 50 - 70
0 Number of bottom margin lines. (Page) 0 - 5
YES Use form feed at end of page. (Page)
80 Print 40 or 80 characters wide.
NO Forced line feed.
There are fewer options because when you print reports you will not print second copies, save to the journal, print sales checks, etc.
If “Print reports on a second printer.” Is set to “NO” then reports will be printed on printer #1, the receipt printer. If “Print receipts on a printer.” from the main print menu is also set to “NO” then neither receipts or reports will be printed.
If “Print reports on a second printer.” Is set to “YES” and “Print receipts on a printer.” from the main print menu is set to “NO” then receipts will not be printed but reports will be printed on printer #2.
For 2nd printer printing, from this screen, you will also have to select the printer port, set the cutter bar (if your printer has one) and program the printer error trap.
NOTE: If you set up a second printer it will be used to print all reports not just reports from the “Reports” feature. This includes time clock reports, printing out the stock table, etc. With a second printer set only receipts will print on printer #1.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Of course this means that if you have a USB printer, or use the printer driver for your printer, that the APRINT program will also have to be modified to support a second printer. Therefore a new version of APRINT comes with this download. The file name is APRINT5.EXE so the new program file will not overwrite previous versions of the APRINT program. If needed, make sure that you start APRINT5.EXE and not a previous version.
The first time you start APRINT5.EXE (or if you press [S] later) it will ask you, “Do you need APRINT to manage your primary (receipt) printer? (Y/N)” Your primary printer is the one you use to print receipts, and if you only have on printer it will print the reports also. If in “Printer setup” you have set the printer port to FILE: then you will press [Y]. If you press [Y], a display your Windows printers, meaning all the printers that have had their drivers loaded into Windows will be displayed. To the left of each printer will be a number. Type in the number of the printer that you wish to use and press [ENTER].
Now you must choose a font size, 12 is standard. If you choose a size that is too large receipts will not print correctly. Depending on your printer either the right portion of each line will not print or it will be wrapped under the left portion of the line. Type in the font size you wish to use and press [ENTER].
Now you will be asked, “Do you need a separate printer for reports? (Y-N)” If you have a second printer attached to your computer AND you have gone to the “8. Reports” feature from the main POS program AND you have pressed [F5] to setup the second printer AND the second printer is setup to print to FILE: then press [Y] now to setup the APRINT program for the second printer. You will now have to choose a printer and a font size.
In addition to support for a second printer APRINT5 you may change the printer setups by pressing the [S] key.
If you wish to test this and then report back do the following...
1. Create a new folder on your hard drive.
2. Copy the contents of your current DHPOS folder to the new folder.
3. Download http://www.dhpos.com/pos704b1.exe to the new folder.
4. Run the pos704b1.exe file from the new folder to extract the program files.
5. From the new folder run the POS.EXE file to start the program. Make sure that version 7.04 BETA 1 is displayed.
All your old files will remain in your old folder and you must run the files from that folder when you are actually using the program to ring actual sales. Use the new folder only to test the new version.
I need you to report back on the new dual printers option and using DOSBox to run the program on 64 bit computers. If you find problems I need you to post them here immediately. If you find no problems tell me that by Friday, 1-15-10 so that I can upload the new version for general release next weekend.
Here are the details....
NEW FEATURES
Total pieces
When ringing up a sale a running count of all the pieces rung so far will appear below the bottom of the “Pieces” column. This count will also appear at the bottom of the receipt.
64 bits
If you have a 64 bit computer or are running a 64 bit version of Windows you can now run this program under DOSBox to get it to work on your computer. Here are the instructions http://keyhut.com/64bit.htm
Full screen
DOSBox will also run the program in full screen on Windows XP, Vista, and 7 systems even if those systems are not 64 bit.
Dual Printers
The program will now support 2 printers attached to the same computer. This is so you can print receipts on a receipt printer on a roll of paper at 40 characters per line and print reports on a computer page printer at 80 characters per line. Following are the instructions for this from the manual….
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Every POS system should also print reports. As a first option this program will print reports on the printer that is used to print receipts. However if you attach a second printer to your computer you can use the first printer to print receipts and the second printer to print reports. Normally the first printer would be a 40 character wide printer that prints on a roll of paper and the second printer would be an 80 character wide computer page printer that prints on sheets of paper.
You would have to attach each printer to a different port on your computer like, LPT1: / LPT2: or LPT1: / USB or two different USB ports. Theoretically you could use a serial port but serial printers are not recommended, will not work under Windows versions after ’98, and may not work anyway.
To use the receipt printer as the report printer you need to do nothing other than set up the receipt printer using the parameter settings above.
To use a second printer to print reports from the main POS.EXE menu you must go to the “8. Reports” feature. From the “Reports” menu press [F5] and another print parameter screen will appear like this…
YES Print reports on a second printer.
PAGE Print on a page printer or print continuously.
0 Number of blank lines between receipts. (Cont.) 0 - 20
0 Number of top margin lines. (Page) 0 - 5
60 Number of printed lines per page. (Page) 50 - 70
0 Number of bottom margin lines. (Page) 0 - 5
YES Use form feed at end of page. (Page)
80 Print 40 or 80 characters wide.
NO Forced line feed.
There are fewer options because when you print reports you will not print second copies, save to the journal, print sales checks, etc.
If “Print reports on a second printer.” Is set to “NO” then reports will be printed on printer #1, the receipt printer. If “Print receipts on a printer.” from the main print menu is also set to “NO” then neither receipts or reports will be printed.
If “Print reports on a second printer.” Is set to “YES” and “Print receipts on a printer.” from the main print menu is set to “NO” then receipts will not be printed but reports will be printed on printer #2.
For 2nd printer printing, from this screen, you will also have to select the printer port, set the cutter bar (if your printer has one) and program the printer error trap.
NOTE: If you set up a second printer it will be used to print all reports not just reports from the “Reports” feature. This includes time clock reports, printing out the stock table, etc. With a second printer set only receipts will print on printer #1.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Of course this means that if you have a USB printer, or use the printer driver for your printer, that the APRINT program will also have to be modified to support a second printer. Therefore a new version of APRINT comes with this download. The file name is APRINT5.EXE so the new program file will not overwrite previous versions of the APRINT program. If needed, make sure that you start APRINT5.EXE and not a previous version.
The first time you start APRINT5.EXE (or if you press [S] later) it will ask you, “Do you need APRINT to manage your primary (receipt) printer? (Y/N)” Your primary printer is the one you use to print receipts, and if you only have on printer it will print the reports also. If in “Printer setup” you have set the printer port to FILE: then you will press [Y]. If you press [Y], a display your Windows printers, meaning all the printers that have had their drivers loaded into Windows will be displayed. To the left of each printer will be a number. Type in the number of the printer that you wish to use and press [ENTER].
Now you must choose a font size, 12 is standard. If you choose a size that is too large receipts will not print correctly. Depending on your printer either the right portion of each line will not print or it will be wrapped under the left portion of the line. Type in the font size you wish to use and press [ENTER].
Now you will be asked, “Do you need a separate printer for reports? (Y-N)” If you have a second printer attached to your computer AND you have gone to the “8. Reports” feature from the main POS program AND you have pressed [F5] to setup the second printer AND the second printer is setup to print to FILE: then press [Y] now to setup the APRINT program for the second printer. You will now have to choose a printer and a font size.
In addition to support for a second printer APRINT5 you may change the printer setups by pressing the [S] key.